Kazakhstan will require major businesses to introduce five-year water-saving plans as authorities warn that worsening shortages could threaten not only the environment but also the country's economy.
The move forms part of a broader effort to reduce water losses and improve efficiency as pressure on water resources intensifies.
For years, water conservation in Kazakhstan has been closely linked to agriculture, which accounts for 60% of the country's total water consumption. Yet the sector has also become one of the clearest examples of how efficiency measures can be scaled up. Water-saving technologies, once used on just 30,000 hectares, are now expanding by around 150,000 hectares annually. By 2030, authorities expect that figure to reach 1.3 million hectares.
The government is now seeking to extend a similar approach to industry. According to Zhanibek Nabiev, head of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation's Department of Industrial Water-Saving Technologies, businesses are entering the final stage of a transition period that will make long-term planning compulsory.
“This year marks the completion of the transition period in industry, and by 2027 all enterprises must develop five-year plans to reduce water consumption, account for losses and introduce water reuse technologies,” he said.
Kazakhstan has roughly 5,600 medium-sized and large businesses, although industrial water use is concentrated among a relatively small group of companies. According to the ministry, 95% of industrial water consumption comes from just 93 firms, making them the most likely initial targets of the new rules.
The changes are expected to extend beyond factories and industrial sites. New construction projects for schools, nurseries and other public facilities are set to include smart systems such as sensor-operated taps, dual-flush cisterns and other technologies designed to reduce unnecessary water use.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation says new construction standards are being drafted under which buildings without water-saving technologies may not be approved for operation. Officials describe the measures as practical steps rather than long-term ambitions, aimed at embedding efficiency into everyday infrastructure.
Alongside regulation, Kazakhstan is also seeking to involve businesses through incentives and data-driven monitoring. The Smart Water Zone environmental project will include manufacturers, hotels, restaurants, shopping centres, offices and educational institutions. Participants will receive an independent rapid assessment of their water-consumption systems, recommendations for improving efficiency and access to sector-specific best practices.
The urgency behind the measures is becoming harder to ignore. Forecasts suggest Kazakhstan could face a water deficit equivalent to 50% of national demand by 2040. By 2050, specialists warn, water shortages could reduce GDP by as much as 6%, pushing the issue far beyond environmental policy and into the centre of economic planning.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on the s...
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases...
Kyrgyzstan is hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the worl...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused U.S. government and Israel-aligned actors of manipulating energy markets to promote the war with Iran.
Russian strikes on the Kyiv region overnight killed 37 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Zelenskyy added that the Ukrainian capital was under "virtually nonstop attack" from drones.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has marked the 104th anniversary of Victory Day, honouring the decisive military victory that helped pave the way for the establishment of the Republic of Türkiye.
Uzbekistan has been named one of the world’s leading destinations for solo travelers, ranking fifth in the 2026 Solo Travel Index compiled by international travel platform Much Better Adventures.
Around five years ago, British prosecutors reportedly decided against pursuing war crime charges against Asma al-Assad, the then First Lady of Syria, because she was unlikely to return to the UK.
Central Asia is moving towards a more connected digital financial system, as rising cashless payments, expanding digital wallets and growing cross-border trade create demand for faster and cheaper ways to move money across the region.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment